Page 39 of Gabriel
I’m pretty sure I broke his nose. And I’m not upset about it.
Felix jogs up beside me, Julio hot on his heels, and both boys watch me with varying expressions as I eyeball Holt’s back.
“What’s his deal?” Felix asks, rolling his neck from side to side like he’s gearing up for a fight. “I saw what he did to your leg. Was all that shit on purpose?”
I shrug. “I can’t prove it. But yeah. He’s taken cheap shots since we started.”
Their eyes narrow. “Because of her?” Julio tilts his head up to the stands. “He’s going to all the trouble over a girl?”
I nod. “Guess so.”
“That’s unlike him.”
“I know.” I’ve ever seen him get attached or so much as care about any girl he’s been with. Not about their feelings or well-being. What’s his play here? One minute he’s talking shit about her, and the next he’s throwing blows my way because I want her? He’s acting like a jealous ex.
A muscle ticks in his Julio’s jaw. “We gonna punish him?”
I think about it for a minute, debating whether he deserves that level of attention. My eyes meet his and Holt flips me off from the sidelines when he thinks no one is looking.Idiot.
“Yeah, we’re punishing him.” Sometimes, lessons need to be learned. This one will be his.
“Shit. About time!” Felix says with a grin. “I can’t stand that pretentious asshole. I don’t even need a reason to throw down with you and work thatpendejoover.”That fucker.
I hold out my fist and he pounds it. I knew he’d be down. Felix loves a good fight. Especially when he can go in all covert. He’s down for a face-to-face brawl too, but what he really enjoys is when he can get inside someone's head. He’s a manipulative shit. Gets his rocks off by making dudes bigger than him scared. It’s an endearing quality, if you ask me.
“Just today or for the foreseeable future,” Julio asks.
“That’s up to him.”
He grunts and glares out across the field. “Yeah. Foreseeable future it is.”
Holt has too much pride to do the smart thing and let this go. Doesn’t matter that he started it. He’s dumb enough to think he can finish it.
He’s about to learn he’s wrong.
CHAPTER 13
CECILIA
“You and me, we need to talk about some things,” Gabriel growls as soon as he’s within earshot, and okay, yeah, he looks pissed. Can’t say I blame him for the bad attitude. I mean, he and Austin really did a number on each other during practice.
It was hard to watch. Enjoyable at times, like when Austin’s nose turned into a bloody faucet, but still rough. I don’t know what all that was about. I thought they were friends. But Gabriel took a lot of hits, and I’m sure he’s in pain.
He should probably see the campus nurse. Get his injuries checked out. But he doesn’t look like he has any plans to head in that direction.
He looks pissed. And having all of Gabriel’s anger directed at me now makes the urge to run far and fast really freaking strong. I remind myself it’s the adrenaline talking. He’s still coming down from practice. He’s fine. Everything is fine.
“About what?” My bottom lip quivers so I bite it to still the motion as I shove my book back into my bag and stand up.It’s okay. His adrenaline is high. He won't hurt you. Right?
I give him an assessing look. Right. Gabriel is nice. He’s not like Austin and his stupid frat buddies. Just an hour ago, he kissed me. And while it was unexpected, it wasn’t unwelcome. My heart rate picks up.
Gabriel runs his fingers through his hair, shoving the sweat damp strands out of his face. He didn’t shower after practice, stopping in the locker room just long enough to grab his things before coming right back out. I almost wish he would have.
Blood drips from the corner of his mouth where Austin landed a jab with his elbow. The asshole. And Gabriel’s cheek is red, a bruise already blooming on his tan skin. The back of one calf is scraped nearly raw and I wince as I take in the blood that pools around his ankle, soaking his sock and staining it a deep red.
I swallow hard. That has to hurt. Do they always go at it like this during practice? Aren’t there rules or something against that sort of thing? I thought soccer was a contactless sport but what I saw today was definitely full contact behavior.
Gabriel gave as good as he got, and some of his friends joined in on it and threw a few of their own hits Austin’s way toward the end, but … why?
